Switch circuit controlling device for railroads



Feb. 27, 1951 F. x. REES 2,543,555

SWITCH CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR RAILROADS FIG. 4.

33 RWF I} 51C]. 8 I 60 1 By zZZTOR. WM M/V HIS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1951 swrron oI-Ro'U'ir CONTROLLINGIDEVIGE FOR RAILROADS Frank X. Rees, .Chili N. -Y eassignor to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester, N..Y.

Application February 20, 1946. Serial No. 648.953

3 Claims. (01. 171-777) 1 This invention relates .to'. circuit controlling devices for railroads, andit more particularly pertains to railway switch circuit controllers used in governing electrical circuits irraccordance with the positions of the switch points.

It isthe usual practice, along a stretch of railway track provided with a signalling system,.to

provide circuit controllers mechanically connect-' ed to the switch points of the respective track switches associated with that stretch of track. Each of such circuit controllers generally comprises mechanically operable contacts that can be adjusted to beclosedo-nly whenthe track switch is in its normalposition or only when the track switch is in its reverse position. These contacts are subject to the vibration from the track rails because of'their mechanical connectionto them, andthey are also subject tocondensation and frost because of being located close to the ground.

A system is disclosed in theprior application of B. A. Lundy, Ser'. No. 612,583',Idated Augustr', 1945,- now Patent' Number 2,516,400, issued July 25, 1950, in which it is possible to providexa'more favorable housing for the contacts at'la point re-' disclosed in the above mentioned prior applica tion.

An object of the present invention is l'bjiin' crease the sensitivity of the inductive coupling-in such an organization by renderings, primary electromagnetic structure movable. in accordance with the operation of the switch pointsrbetween a secondary electromagnetic structure and a" magnetic shunt. Relatively smallmovement of.

the primary structure away from the; secondary structure produces a considerable-reduction-in voltage induced in the secondary winding'not only because of the increasein' airgapbetween' the two structures, but because the airgap is re-.

duced between the" primary structuretand'the magnetic shunt at the same time so that the shunt diverts agreater portion of the magnetic field from the secondary structure.

Another'objectof the present invention'is to reduce to'a minimum the leakage current in the" secondary winding when the primary 1 electromagnetic structure is operated; away from the secondary electromagnetic structure. Thisis accomplished by applying: the magnetic shunt 2 directly; to the primary, structure at that timeto reduce to a minimum themagnetic flux linkage with the secondary. electromagnetic structure. By this arrangement the amount .of mechanical rn-ovement'required for the primary structure, is considerably less than that which would be required if no shunt were employed.

Another object :of the present invention is to provide a circuit controller having a, structure comprisinga plurality of variable inductivecoupling means operated by a common mechanical connection to the switch points, each of such means being adjustable torender maximum secondary voltage with'the switch points in either their normal or reversepositions.

'Other objects of the present invention reside in adjustment means and characteristic features and purposes which are in part obvious from the accompanying drawin s and in part pointed "out as the description progresses.

In describing the invention in detailreference will be made to the accompanying drawings in Which corresponding parts are indicated by use of similar referencecharacters, and in; which? Fig. 1 illustrates the manner in which a circuit controller provided according to the present-invention is connected. to. the switch points of a track-switch; p v

Fig- 2 isa plan view-of the-switchfcircuit controller with the cover removed;-

Fig.=3 is a side-sectional View of the switch: cir-,

cuit controller takenalong the line 3;3 of Fig. 2 with the switch ci-rcuit'controller;cover; added;

Fig. dis an endsectional viewof the switch circuit controller taken-along-the line 4-4 of; Fig.2; Fig.5 is a schemati wiringdiagram illustrat ing the manner in which the circuit controller maybe eifective in controllingsignals or other traffic controllingdevices; and

Fig. 6' is an; expandedperspective View of1parts of the switch circuit controller associated with oneinductive coupled circuit controlling; means. vWith reference to Fig. 1,- a singleqtrack switch is illustrated as comprising-- movab le switch points Ill-1 and ll" spaced bya tie rod.. .:2-;anda front rod [3. The track switch is illustrated as being operated by" a. hand-throw switch stand HT in the conventional manner. Thev Switch circuit controller SC is connected to the nearest switch point H bythedetector rod; l-4', --such rod being secured to the switch point H by a.

switch lug I5 in the usual manner. The track switch has been shownrin its reverseposition with'respect'tothe main track rails later the purpose-of convenience in.illustrating thest ucture of the switch circuit controller. The signals A and B are illustrated as being provided for governing traffic over the track switch in its respective normal or reverse positions.

With reference to Fig. 2 the switch circuit con troller is illustrated as having a general organization comprising case M, and a crank |8 for operating a cam shaft I9, such cam shaft carrying cams 20 and 2| for the operation of the respective armatures 22 and 23. Such armatures have secured thereto primary electromagnetic structures 45 and 56 which are operated by the cams 20 and 2| respectively.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, it is illustrated that the armatures 22 and 23 operate between the respective secondary magnetic structures 24 and 26 and magnetic shunts 25 and 21, such magnetic structures being more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the armature 22 is operated between the secondary structure 24 and the magnetic shunt 25. Similarly, the armature 23 is operated between the secondary electromagnetic structure 26 and the magnetic shunt 21.

Having thus considered the general organization of the switch circuit controller, the structure of the various parts will be more specifically considered.

With reference to Fig. 2, the crank I8 is provided with a swivel joint connector 28 for connection to the detector rod l4, and the crank I8 is rigidly clamped to one end of the cam shaft H! by the bolt 29. At the opposite end of the cam shaft I9 a collar 30 is provided which is interchangeable with the detector crank -|8 for adapting the switch circuit controller for use with a track switch facing in the opposite direction.

The cams 20 and 2| are securely clamped to the cam shaft is by the screws 3|. With reference to Fig. 3, the cam 20 is illustrated as having a cam operating surface 32 curved on a radius from the center of the cam shaft l9. Recesses 33 and 34 at the ends of the cam operating surface 32 allow the operation of the armature 22 to a position to provide for maximum energization of the secondary winding S of the secondary electromagnetic structure 24, when the cam 29 is operated so that either of such recesses is in alignment with the roller 43 (see Fig. 6). It is provided that the spacing between the recesses 33 and 34 is such that when the cam is adjusted to operate the armature 22 in respective normal or reverse positions, the full operation of the track switch does not provide sufficient travel of the cam 20 to allow the armature 22 to be again operated at the other extreme position. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 3 where the reverse position of the switch circuit controller is shown in which the armature 22 is held in its position in engagement with the magnetic shunt 25 for the portion of the cam extending from the position 32a on the cam surface to the recess 33. When the track switch is operated to its normal position the roller 43 of the armature 22 is operated to enter the recess 33.

The cam 2| is of similar structure to that specifically described above for the cam 26, but such cam 2| is adjusted so that the armature 23 is allowed to be operated to its upper position (with the track switch in its reverse position as shown) to provide for maximum energization of the secondary winding S (see Fig. 4) because of such armature 23 being in alignment with the recess (not shown) at the upper end of the cam 2|. The armature 23 is in its operating position as just described only when the track switch is in its full reverse position, because there is not sumcient travel of the cam 2| during operation of the track switch to its normal position to allow the armature 23 to be operated into the recess 35 at the opposite end of the cam 2 I.

It is believed to be readily apparent from the structure of the cams 20 and 2| as just described, that each of such cams can be adjusted to use the recess at either end thereof in accordance with the requirements for closing circuits with the track switch in its respective normal or reverse positions.

With reference to Fig. 6 the structure of the armature 22 is more clearly illustrated. Such armature is pivoted by the pin 36 which is also common to the armature 23 (see Fig. 2). With reference to Fig. 2 the pin 36 is journaled by a center bearing 31 and by bearings 38 and 39 se-' cured to the case |1. Spacers 40 and 4| at the ends of the pin 36 are provided for adjustment in the alignment of the armatures 22 and 23 with their cooperating shunt and secondary magnetic. structures.

With reference to Fig. 6, the armature 22 is provided with a transverse pin 42 which is used. as a bearing for the roller 43. The roller 43 is biased against the cam surface 32 of the cam 20 (see Fig. 3) by a compression spring 41'. Thepin 42 is secured in the armature 22 by the cotter pins 44. The armature 22 is preferably of non-- magnetic material and it has a U-shaped structure for supportin the respective ends of the laminated soft magnetic structure 45, such structure being secured to the armature by the screws 46 The armatures 22 and 23 are biased against the cams 20 and 2| respectively by compression springs 41 so that the operation of the arma- With reference to Fig. 4, the magnetic shunts.

25 and 21 each are of a U-shaped laminated soft magnetic structure and such shunts are secured by straps 48 and rivets 49 to the transverse strap.

50. The strap 50 is provided with adjustment screws 5| and lock nuts 52 for the purpose of adjusting the height of th magnetic shunt members 25 and 21. be adjusted so that the laminations of the armatures 22 and 23 are in direct contact to close the open sides of magnetic shunts 25 and 21 when such armatures are in their downward operated positions. When proper adjustment is accomplished, the shunts 25 and 21 are firmly secured to the terminal board 53 by suitable bolts 54 and spacers 55, preferably of non-magnetic material. The holes in the terminal board 53 for the bolts 54 are large enough to allow for whatever adjustment is required, or they can be elongated if necessary.

The secondary magnetic structures 24 and 26 are inverted U-shaped soft laminated magnetic structures with secondary coil windings S and S respectively provided on such structures for controlling the respective relays NWP and RWP. The members 24 and 26 are secured to the terminal board 53 by bolts 62 and spacers 63 in a similar manner to the manner described in which the magnetic shunts 25 and 21 are secured to such terminal board. It is unnecessary to provide ad- The shunts 25 and 21 shouldjustment meansfor the secondary elect'ro-magnetic structures 24' and 2'6 other than a loose fit for the bolts 62 in the terminal board holes, because such structures are at the top of the terminal board where they can be readily adjusted by merely loosening the mounting bolts 62 and moving the structures 24, and 26 by hand to provide proper alignment with the armatures 22 and 23 respectively.

It will be noted with reference. to-Fig. 3 that the secondary magnetic structures 24 and 26 are spaced slightly greater distances away from the terminal board 53 than the magnetic shunts 25 and 21 to provide that the lower ends of such structures will be in proper alignment with the laminated members of the cooperating primary electromagnetic structures 45fland 56 when such primary structures are in their operated positions. In other words, the magnetic shunts 25 and 21 and the secondary magnetic structures 24 and 26 have the center lines of their contact surfaces located on a radius about the pivot pin 36 at which point the armatures 22 and 23 are pivoted. It is also provided that the contact surfaces of the secondary electromagnetic structures 24 and 26 which come into contact with the primary magnetic structures of armatures 22 and 23 respectively are cut at an angle to correspond to the angle which the armatures 22 and 23 assume when in their upper operated positions because of their being pivoted around the pin 36.

With reference to Fig. 5, the primary windings P and P are both steadily energized from a suitable source of alternating current, and the secondary windings S and S receive their energy only by induction from the flux linkage of the primary electromagnetic structures 45 and 56 respectively. It is desirable from the standpoint of providing most sensitive control of the relays NWP and RWP which are energized by the induced voltages of the secondary windings S and S respectively, that the primary electromagnetic structures 45 and 56 be operated below the saturation of their laminated structures in order that the magnetic shunts 25 and 21 respectively may be effective upon operation of such primary magnetic structures away from the secondary electromagnetic structures 24 and 26 to divert the magnetic field from those secondary magnetic structures.

The secondary windings S and S are illustrated as being connected to full-wave rectifier units 51 and 58 respectively, and the direct current neutral relays NWP and RWP are energized by the direct current delivered respectively by the rectifiers 51 and 58. It is illustrated, for example, how signal circuits can be selected by the contacts of these relays, one signal being selected by the normal relay NWP and another signal being selected by the reverse relay RWP. It is desirable to provide circuit connections as illustrated by which the circuits check not only through the desired front contact of the relay used for the required circuit control, but also check that the relay for the opposite position of the track switch has been deenergized. Thus it is shown in Fig. 5 that the energy for feeding signal B is provided through a circuit including back contact 59 of relay NWP and front contact 60 of relay RWP connected in series. Similarly, the circuit for feeding energy to signal A includes back contact 60 of relay RWP and front contact 59 of relay NWP connected in series. It will be readily seen that by this arrangement of interlocking of cir- 6i cuits it i possible to clear only one of the two signals at one time.

With. reference to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the armature 22 is arranged to provide. a leverage advantage for the movement of the primary magnetic structure 45' as compared to the movement of the roller 43 by the cam 20. This provides a sufficient amount of travel of the primary magnetic structure 45 to provide for the dropping away of the associated relay NWP when the switch point I l is a distance greater than approximately one-fourth of an inch away from the associated rail l6 of the main track.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that it is the usual practice to include switch detector contacts in the housing of a power switch machine when a track switch is power operated rather than hand-operated; thus rendering the provision of a separate circuit controller unnecessary. It is, therefore, to be understood that the inductive coupling means provided by the present invention can be modified as required to fit the housing of a power switch machine so that it can be operated in such switch machine to provide the general mode of operation herein described. It is to be understood that such inductive coupling means may also be applied in the switch machine or other apparatus where it is desirable to locate contacts remote from vibration or other adverse operating conditions to be encountered in practice.

Having thus described a specific structure of a railway switch circuit controller as one embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that this form is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number of forms which the invention may assume, and it is further to be understood that various adaptations, alterations and modifications may be applied to the specific form shown to meet the requirements of practice, without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention except as limited by the appending claims.

What I claim is:

1. A switch circuit controller comprising in combination, a fixed secondary electromagnetic structure separated by a substantial air gap from an oppositely disposed fixed magnetic shunt, a primary electromagnetic structure, an armature having a pivot point at one end and having said primary electromagnetic structure secured at the other end so as to be disposed in said air gap between said fixed secondary electromagnetic structure and said fixed magnetic shunt, a cam on a cam shaft rotatable between respective normal and reverse positions, biasing means for said armature urging said armature against said cam and against the force of gravity, and said biasing means being effective to urge said primary electromagnet away from said magnetic shunt to an extent limited by the contour of said cam, whereby upon failure of said biasing means said armature assumes a position maintaining said primary electromagnetic structure in close coupling with said magnetic shunt, irrespective of the position of said cam.

2. A switch circuit controller comprising in combination, a stationary secondary electromagnetic structure spaced by a substantial air gap from an oppositely disposed magnetic shunt, a primary electromagnetic structure, an armature having a pivot point at one end and having said primary electromagnetic structure secured thereto at the other end, said armature having a transversely disposed roller at an intermediate point between said pivot point and said primary electromagnetic structure, a cam on a cam shaft rotatable between respective normal and reverse positions, said cam having a recess formed in its contour for permitting actuation of said primary electromagnetic structure from a position adjoining said magnetic shunt to a position adjoining said secondary electromagnetic structure, and biasing means for said armature urging said roller against said cam so that upon rotation of said cam shaft, movement of said armature from a position with its associated primary electromagnetic structure adjoining said shunt to a position adjoining said secondary electromagnetic structure is effected by said roller dropping into said recess in said cam.

3. A switch circuit controller comprising in combination, a stationary secondary electromagnetic structure having a secondary coil Winding, a stationary magnetic shunt spaced opposite and away from said secondary electromagnetic structure, a primary electromagnetic structure, an armature having a pivot point at one end and having said primary electromagnetic structure secured thereto at the other end, said armature having a transversely disposed roller at an intermediate point between said pivot point and said primary electromagnetic structure, and means including a crank and actuating cam organization bearing against said roller and rotatable between normal and reverse position for actuating 8. said electromagnetic structure by reciprocating movement to selectively adjoin said secondary electromagnetic structure or said magnetic shunt in accordance whether said crank is rotated to said normal or said reverse position.

FRANK X. REES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 354,274 Thomson Dec. 14, 1886 1,169,957 Henry Feb. 1, 1916 1,273,092 Redfield July 16, 1918 1,561,962 Whitney Nov. 17, 1925 1,899,894 Field Feb. 28, 1933 1,971,188 Kramer Aug. 21, 1934 1,984,939 Nachumsohn Dec. 18, 1934 2,001,557 Von Ohlsen May 14, 1935 2,079,466 Phillips May 4, 1937 2,140,386 Jones Dec. 13, 1938 2,309,250 Kingery Jan. 26, 1943 2,441,814 Haug May 18, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Universal Switch Circuit Controller, Supplement No. 5 to 1902.

Catalogue, section 15; The Union Switch and Signal 00., Swissvale, Pennsylvania. August 1911. 

